Evaluation of Early Transcutaneous Bilirubinometry to Predict Subsequent Hyperbilirubinemia in Neonates Admitted to a Well-Baby Nursery.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine whether a transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) value obtained within 6 hours of birth (early transcutaneous bilirubin [ETcB]) either alone, or used to calculate an early rate of rise (E-ROR) in TcB, will identify those neonates who are at a higher risk for subsequent jaundice.

Study Design: ETcB values were obtained from a convenience sample of neonates admitted to the newborn nursery. E-ROR was calculated as the average hourly increase between ETcB and subsequent TcB obtained at 18 to 36 hours of age.

Transcutaneous bilirubinometry.

Although the modern era of transcutaneous bilirubin monitoring (TcB) began only about 35 years ago, this screening tool is now widely used in newborn nurseries and outpatient clinics, offices, and emergency departments to obtain a rapid and non-invasive estimate of the degree of hyperbilirubinemia. TcB devices have become more sophisticated, and major breakthroughs include the following: (a) ability to report a bilirubin value rather than an index value, (b) enhanced correction for chromophores other than bilirubin, and (c) technologic improvements including interface with electronic medical records. Good agreement with laboratory bilirubin measurement has been demonstrated, and the ability of TcB screening to predict and decrease the incidence of subsequent hyperbilirubinemia has been well-documented.

Hospital course and short-term outcomes of term and late preterm neonates following exposure to prolonged rupture of membranes and/or chorioamnionitis.

Our objective was to characterize the hospital course and short-term outcomes of neonates exposed to prolonged rupture of membranes (PROM), chorioamnionitis (CH), or both PROM and CH. Outcomes were positive blood culture and/or clinical signs of infection (+BC/CSI) prompting >4 days of antibiotics. Six neonates had a positive BC, 2 (0.

Circulating blasts and associated hematologic disorders in neonates with Down syndrome.

We analyzed complete blood count (CBC) data obtained from neonates with Down syndrome (DS) in a primarily Hispanic population over a 10-year period to determine the incidence of hematologic abnormalities and the relationship of abnormalities to the presence of circulating blasts (CB). Hematologic values obtained during the first 10 days were analyzed. Definitions were: CB, ≥ 1% blasts manually counted on peripheral smear; elevated white blood cell count (WBC), >30,000 cells/mm(3); thrombocytopenia, platelet count < 150,000/mm(3); polycythemia, hematocrit >65%.

Growth and neurodevelopment in extremely low-birth-weight neonates exposed to postnatal steroid therapy.

We compared postnatal growth and neurodevelopment in extremely low-birth-weight (<1000 g) neonates who did or did not receive postnatal steroid (PNS) therapy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). One hundred seventy-three neonates with Bayley Scales of Infant Development II (BSID II) testing performed at 18- to 22-month adjusted age were studied. Growth parameters and BSID II scales were compared among three groups: group I, no BPD; group II, BPD, no PNS; group III, BPD and PNS exposure.

Transcutaneous bilirubin nomograms: a systematic review of population differences and analysis of bilirubin kinetics.

Objectives: To compare available nomograms in the literature defining trends in bilirubin levels across populations with different risk factor profiles and to study a mathematical bilirubin kinetics model describing the natural course of jaundice and the bilirubin rate of rise needed to cross percentile curves.

Data Sources: We searched PubMed for publications between March 1999 and March 2009 that created transcutaneous nomograms. We performed the same search among abstracts presented in the past 2 years at meetings of the Pediatric Academic Societies or the European Society for Paediatric Research.

Anterior fontanel size in term and late preterm Hispanic neonates: description of normative values and an alternative measurement method.

We sought to determine anterior fontanel size (AFS) in Hispanic neonates and to compare two methods of measurement. The traditional method (TRAD) was defined as the sum of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions, divided by 2. Diagonal measurements (DIAG) were obtained between the estimated midpoints of the edges of the frontal and parietal bones, and the sum was divided by 2.

An hour-specific nomogram for transcutaneous bilirubin values in term and late preterm Hispanic neonates.

We sought to determine percentile values for hour-specific transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) measurements in Hispanic neonates during the first 72 hours of age. Neonates with gestational age >or= 35 weeks and body weight >or= 2100 g were included. All neonates were screened with JM-103 TcB measurements at a minimum of every 24 hours by nursing personnel, and only TcB values obtained in Hispanic neonates with postnatal ages of 10 to 74 hours were analyzed.

Pulse oximetry screening at 4 hours of age to detect critical congenital heart defects.

Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to assess the feasibility and reliability of pulse oximetry screening to detect critical congenital heart defects in a newborn nursery.

Methods: The study was performed in a large urban hospital with an exclusively inborn population. Stable neonates who had a gestational age of >or=35 weeks and birth weight of >or=2100 g and in whom a critical congenital heart defect was not suspected were admitted to the newborn nursery.

Serum calcium values in term and late-preterm neonates receiving gentamicin.

Since noting an apparent increase in hypocalcemia in neonates receiving gentamicin every 24 h (q 24 h) for > or = 4 days, we have prospectively monitored serum calcium (Ca) values in these patients receiving prolonged gentamicin therapy. This study is a retrospective analysis of those values measured during gentamicin treatment. The study included neonates with gestational age > or = 35 weeks who received > or = 4 days of gentamicin therapy and in whom at least one serum Ca value was measured > or = 47 h after initiation of therapy.

Comparison of self-directed learning versus instructor-modeled learning during a simulated clinical experience.

Background: There are no reports in the literature that compare instructor-modeled learning to self-directed learning when simulation is used. Therefore, no evidence exists to know which approach is superior. This study aims to test the hypothesis that instructor-modeled learning is more effective compared with self-directed learning during a simulated clinical experience.

Capillary refill time is an unreliable indicator of cardiovascular status in term neonates.

Purpose: Decisions regarding the need for volume replacement in neonates often are made in the immediate newborn period. Capillary refill time (CRT) is used as an indicator of circulatory status; however, recent data show that CRT varies considerably with age, ambient and skin temperature, anatomical site of measurement, and duration of pressure. The purpose of this study was to (1) examine the relationship between CRT and heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) in term neonates, and (2) evaluate the differences among CRT values measured at 3 body sites and with varying duration of cutaneous pressure.

Evaluation of a transcutaneous jaundice meter following hospital discharge in term and near-term neonates.

Objectives: To evaluate performance of the Minolta JM-103 Jaundice Meter (JM) as a predictor of total serum bilirubin (TSB) in outpatient neonates during the first week postnatal, and to estimate the number of TSB determinations that might be avoided in clinical use.

Study Design: In neonates evaluated posthospital discharge, JM and TSB results were compared using linear regression and a Bland-Altman plot, and predictive indices were calculated for various JM cutoff values. Utilizing the 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines, the ability of JM to predict risk zone status was determined.

Are complete blood cell counts useful in the evaluation of asymptomatic neonates exposed to suspected chorioamnionitis?

Objective: Chorioamnionitis complicates 1% to 10% of pregnancies and increases the risk of neonatal infection. Women with chorioamnionitis receive intrapartum antibiotics, often resulting in inconclusive neonatal blood cultures. Peripheral neutrophil values are used frequently to assist in the diagnosis of neonatal infection and to determine duration of antibiotics; we sought to determine the utility of this approach.

Value of neurosonography in predicting subsequent cognitive and motor development in extremely low birth weight neonates.

Objective: To compare the results of neurosonography (NSG) with subsequent neurodevelopmental testing in extremely low birth weight (ELBW; < or =1000 g) neonates.

Study Design: NSG at hospital discharge was available in 164 neonates and Bayley Scores of Infant Development (BSID II) evaluations (MDI and PDI) were performed in 158 of these infants at 18 to 22 months. Neurosonographic studies obtained prior to the discharge study also were evaluated.

Pneumonia in term neonates: laboratory studies and duration of antibiotic therapy.

Objectives: To compare 2 days of antibiotic therapy (AT) to 4 days of AT in neonates with pneumonia and to assess the usefulness of neutrophil values (NV), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) in this population.

Design: The study population consisted of consecutive, eligible term neonates begun on AT for suspected pneumonia. Of 51 neonates, 26 qualified for randomization (14, 2-day group; 12, 4-day group).

Association of hypocalcemia with a change in gentamicin administration in neonates.

Aminoglycosides are administered frequently to neonates with suspected sepsis. We report the association of hypocalcemia in term and near-term neonates receiving gentamicin therapy for >/=4 days after a change in dosing from every 12 h to every 24 h. The possible association with a higher gentamicin dose and longer dosing interval is described.

Association of antenatal and postnatal dexamethasone exposure with outcomes in extremely low birth weight neonates.

Background: Recent studies of preterm neonates have indicated that antenatal dexamethasone (ADX) may have adverse effects on cranial ultrasound findings at the time of hospital discharge, including periventricular leukomalacia. Furthermore, both ADX and postnatal dexamethasone (PDX) may have adverse effects on subsequent neurodevelopmental outcome.

Objectives: 1) To assess the effects of ADX exposure on cranial ultrasound findings at the time of hospital discharge and 2) to evaluate the individual effects of ADX and/or PDX exposure on subsequent neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) neonates in whom confounding risk factors known to influence outcome were controlled.

Assessment of a transcutaneous device in the evaluation of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia in a primarily Hispanic population.

Objective: To compare estimates of serum bilirubin as determined by a transcutaneous device (BiliChek [BC]) with laboratory-measured total serum bilirubin (TSB) in a predominately Hispanic population in which a significant number of TSB values > or =15 mg/dL was anticipated.

Methods: A total of 248 Hispanic and 56 non-Hispanic neonates were studied. Transcutaneous measurements were performed by 1 investigator within 30 minutes of blood sampling for TSB; TSB was determined in a large clinical laboratory using the diazo Jendrassik-Grof with blank method.